After all, it’s hard to appreciate your taste in finishes when the roof is leaking.
While it’s tempting to dive headfirst into your dream remodel, if your home isn’t in good shape, your upgrades won’t last. Maintenance first, then makeover.
Prioritize Repairs
While the impulse to sprint toward cosmetic fixes is certainly exciting, skipping over necessary repairs is setting yourself up for disappointment. Imagine removing the popcorn from your ceiling only to showcase water stains.
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How to prioritize repairs:
Begin by addressing critical health or safety risks, such as electrical issues, gas leaks, or roof leaks. Then, proceed to manage structural components, including roofing, plumbing, HVAC, and foundation.
Next, you’ll need to address those little nuisances before they turn into big headaches. Seal any siding gaps, patch up minor leaks, clean out the gutters, and refresh old caulking. Tackling these small jobs now can save your new floors, paint, and upgrades from costly damage later.
Keep Up with the Upkeep
A well-maintained home lasts longer. Sure, cleaning your gutters and replacing your furnace filters may feel like a drag, but you should use this time to inspect your home.
Catching problems early will save you money on repairs. So, check your foundation when powerwashing your siding, and look for water damage when recaulking your windows.
Once you get into the habit of regular maintenance, your remodeling plans will likely adjust. Perhaps vinyl flooring will hold up better against puppy paws and kids’ toys. How will I replace a smoke detector on a vaulted ceiling?
Budget for Renovations (and Repairs)
In a perfect world, your reno goes off without a hitch. Miraculously, the limestone countertops you ordered were on sale, and that’s only the beginning of your good fortune. In the real world, however, bulldozers bust sprinkler heads and demo days uncover mold and unforeseen challenges.
- How to budget for home repairs and remodeling:
Plan to save 1–3% of your home’s value every year to cover maintenance costs. Another option is to save $1 for every square foot of your home annually. - To strike a home renovation and maintenance balance:
Include a contingency budget of 10–20% for renovation projects. This financial buffer will help manage unexpected costs. This way, you can spring for your design choices without running out of funds midway through the project.
Budgeting Worksheet For Costing Home Remodeling and Home Improvement Decisions
File Type (excel)
Design for the Long Haul
It’s easy to fall in love with what’s trendy. We see something new or striking and instantly have a strong reaction. Then, the winds of change blow design trends in a different direction, and you’re left with egg on your face.
You thought subway tiles with black hardware looked so smart at first, but a year later, you hate your bathroom because it feels like a public space. Or you thought pot fillers above the stove were intriguing, but now they’re just another thing to clean.
Ignore the trends and design for the future, while staying true to the style of your home. Timeless design trends include:
- Natural wood finishes
- Natural stone
- Warm neutral paint colors
- Native landscaping
- Plaster painting techniques
- Linen drapes
- Hardwood floors
The 1960s saw a trend of using plastics, linoleum, Formica, and other synthetic materials in homes, but these surfaces deteriorate, scuff, and leech toxins. Now, builders and designers are prioritizing natural, sustainable elements that stand the test of time.
If you’re looking for ingenuity, check out washable rugs, hands-free faucets, and energy-efficient appliances.
Work With the Seasons
You can save money by scheduling some renovations during the "off-season" for contractors. Other renos need cooperative weather.
Here is a seasonal guide to help you choose the best season for your home renovations:
Maintenance should come before each season. For example, your gutters need repair before spring and autumn arrive, and you shouldn’t wait for extreme heat or cold to check in on your HVAC system.
Think about how you use your home and schedule maintenance for the least interference to your seasonal routine.
Home Maintenance Calendar: Scheduling Your Tasks for the Year
Home maintenance tasks vary throughout the year, with each month bringing its own set of responsibilities. From January’s post-holiday clean-ups and HVAC inspections to December’s gutter cleanings and holiday decoration safety checks, a well-planned schedule ensures your home remains in top condition year-round.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Watching HGTV gives viewers a false sense of home renovation and repair. You see a space transformed in 20 minutes with cheery hosts and staged interactions. If problems do arise, they typically last 5-6 minutes, and everything turns out nicely in the end.
Production doesn’t show the reality of living months without a kitchen or confrontations with subcontractors.
Then there are the DIY shows that have you saying, "I could do that!", despite you not owning a drill.
Here are some common renovation and maintenance mistakes to avoid:
- Failing to get permits/follow code
- Choosing the wrong contractor
- Being indecisive/poor communication
- Underestimating costs
- Ignoring future upkeep when picking trendy designs
- Forgetting resale appeal
- Not implementing storage space
When I moved into my current home, the built-ins grabbed my attention instantly. The shelving above the kitchen desk and the nook with hooks by the door totally distracted me from the fact that there are no storage closets. "It’s like we live at Ikea," I remember saying as we moved in.
Believe me, you need a place to hide the vacuum, the litter box, and every other unsightly thing you reach for every week.
Apps to Try
Home ownership is a parade of to-dos, and keeping up can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are apps to store maintenance reminders and budgeting tools for those planning a remodel.
Best Home Maintenance Apps to Stay on Track With Your Remodel:
- HomeZada:
lets you plan and budget for home repairs and maintenance while projecting geo-specific costs of renovations. - Centriq:
lets you ditch those owner’s manuals by saving a picture of the device’s label. The app has how-to videos for fixing your appliances and direct links to purchase replacement parts. Centriq also sends safety recalls and suggests routine maintenance. - Google Home and Alexa:
will also keep a maintenance log and schedule for you. These devices give helpful reminders for tasks like swapping air filters, changing smoke alarm batteries, and cleaning out the gutters.
FAQ
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Which upgrades save the most on future repairs?
Upgrades to your home’s most critical components will save you the most money in the event of a catastrophic failure. Roofing, HVAC, structural, and plumbing upgrades aren’t sexy, but neither are the frigid showers of a broken water heater.
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Can maintenance increase resale value more than cosmetic updates?
Yes. Homes that are in pristine condition are more valuable to potential buyers. Fads come and go, and most homebuyers would rather renovate at their own pace than buy a fixer-upper.
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Which renovations have the best return on investment?
You might think a kitchen or bathroom overhaul has the highest ROI, but replacing your front or garage door will get you more bang for your buck.
Minor kitchen and bath remodels are often preferable to total overhauls, and you’ll never go wrong by upgrading your appliances.
Are you ready to create your dream home? Think long-term, use home maintenance apps, and schedule your renovations wisely. Handle maintenance before your makeover, and you’ll have a beautiful space built to last.
other related analysis of interest: (new win)
Breathe Easy: A Complete Guide to Air Purifiers for Allergy Relief
Find Handyman Services (opens new win) Handyman Carpentry Electrical Plumbing top-rated, pre-screened local contractors FREE: download contractor selection enter zip code – powered by HomeAdvisor ™
Image credit: balance your dream makeover by envato.com
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